Torpedo carrier



o. K. A. FRIND-r .2,266,545

TORPEDO CARRIER Filed Deo. 11, 1939 2 sheets-sheet 1 Dec.-16, 1941'.

5M I l Z555?,

Patented Dec. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ToREDo CARRIER otto K. A. Frinat, oh'ieage, 111. Application Deeember 11, 1959, serial No. 308,518

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a torpedo carrier of that type which is self-propelled under the guidance of a pilot and which is adapted to be carried by a mother ship and released or dropped overboard when an occasion for use thereof arises.

It is an object of this invention to provide such a carrier which will possess a high rate of speed and a large horse power for causing a penetrating eiect with respect to an object'that is the subject of an attack.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a carrier from which the guiding pilot is automatically ejected at will upon the operation of a release mechanism.

It is also an object of this invention to provide such a carrier in which an explosive force and a combustible gas are automatically respectively ignited and released upon a sudden stopping of the carrier such as arises from a sudden impact.

It is a further object of this invention to provide in connection with such a device, a torpedo that will have practically no tendency to become jammed therein.

With'these and other objects in view which will become'apparent in the following description and disclosure, this invention comprises the 'novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of this invention and in which 'similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different Views:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken in a vertical plane of a torpedo carrier involving this invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken in a horizontal plane of my torpedo carrier substantially upon the line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially upon the line III--III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially upon the line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken upon the line V-V of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken upon the line VI-VI of Fig. 1.

In referring now to the drawings which illustrate a preferred form of this invention, it will be noted that there has been shown a carrier in the form of a small narrow boat having a substantially turtle-shaped top which closes the boat so that the interior is sealed against the ingress of water. I

n ber.

The carrier may be made of a shell-like exterior I which is closed at the top with the exception of an upwardly curved hoodlike door 2 which is hinged to the shell at its forward end as indicated at 3. The rear end of the door 2 is releasably latched as will later more fully appear.

In the forward end of the shell I, there is an elongated chamber 4 which is formed by asuitable metal wall or box 5 enclosing such cham- In the walls of the chamber, there are grooves 6 which form a guideway for receiving a torpedo 1 which has a substantially square point 8 extending forward of the carrier. The sides of the point are made slightly concave so that the point presents a plurality of sharp cutting edges 7a. The bodyof the torpedo which is preferably cylindricalj in form tapers slightly from the rear edge of the point to the rear end thereof so that the diameter gradually decreases toward the rear so as to prevent jamming when the torpedo is ejected.

The body portion of the torpedo is hollow and forms a chamber 9 for a high explosive. The chamber 4 is considerably longer than the torpedo and forms a/ powder compartment I0 rearward of the torpedo.

In the rear wall 5a of the chamber 4, there are electric igniters I I (Fig. 4) which are shown in the form of conducting pins I I that are fast in and extend through insulating tubes IIa embedded in the rear wall 5a. It will be noted that the pins II extend into the powder chamber where they terminate in curved ends vIIb directed toward the metal wall but leaving a spark gap between their ends and the wall which serves as ground.v The pins II also project slightly beyond the outer-surface of the wall 5a to form contact points for the conducting levers I2 which arepivoted at their upper ends to lugs I3 on the wall 5a. The lower ends of the levers I2 carry weights I4 and coil springs I5 between the levers and box normally maintain the levers out of contact with the pins.

A source of` electrical energy IE is connected with the levers I2 by yielding conductors I'I and is connected with the box by a conductor I8. When the torpedo carrier is suddenly arrested by an impact or the like, the levers I2 will fly forwardly against the tension of the springs I5 and contact the pins I I. The current passing through the pins Il will naturally jump the gap between the curved ends of the pins and the wall of the box and cause suiicient sparking to ignite the powder in chamber I0.

Upon each side of the torpedo and powder box 5, there is a gas cylinder I8 (Fig. 2l) having a spout I9 at its forward end that is normally closed by a plug 2U. Toward the rear end of each cylinder there is a piston 2| adapted to be propelled in a forward direction by a coil spring 22 when released. As shown more clearly in Fig. 5, the piston 2| has a stem 23 extending through the rear wall of the cylinder where it is provided with a groove or notch 23a in which the end of a trigger 24 engages. It will be noted that the trigger is substantially L shaped with a hook on the short leg that engages the groove 23a; the lever being pvoted at its foot to a bracket 25 on the cylinder.

Upon the end of each cylinder I8 there -is alug 26 upon which a lever 21 is pivoted in suspended relation. Each lever carries a weight 2B at its lower end. Coil springs 29 conned between such levers and the ends of the cylinder normally serve to maintain the levers free and rearwardly of the trigger 24. However, when the carrier is suddenly arrested, the levers 21 will fly forwardly and strike the free arms of the triggers 24 and release the triggers from engagement with the stems 23 to allow the springs 22 to become effective for advancing the pistons 2| in a forward direction for compressing the gas with sufcient energy to eject the plugs 20 and squirt the gas forwardly at the time of the explosion.

In the rear part of the carrier are a pair of gas engines 30 which are adapted to drive propellers 3| for propelling the carrier. These engines are designed of a high horse power for imparting a high speed to the carrier. rThe fuel for these engines may be supplied from suitable gas tanks as is well known. If desired the engines may be suitably connected by pipes 32 with the gas cylinders |8 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Such carriers when released from a mother ship are adapted to be guided by a pilot who can cause himself to be ejected any suitable time by the operation of a lever as will now be set forth.

Substantially midway of the carrier and in the body thereof is a slidable pilot seat 33 (Fig. 1) attached to a latch bar 34 which is provided with a rearwardly bent terminal having a hook 35 engaging the rear edge of the door 2. The seat is attached to the bar 34 by its frame members 35 and 31 in any suitable manner. A T-bar 38 which is suitably supported serves to support the seat for upward sliding movement in a rearwardly inclined plane. To this end the T-bar-38 is rearwardly inclined and its web 38a is outwardly directed and the seat frame 36 supports a pair of rollers 39 such as shown in Fig. 6 that embrace the web 38a of the T-bar 38. The latch bar 34 carries a metal strip 40 which supports a pair of rollers 33 that embrace the web 33a, as shown in Fig. 6. Thus the seat is guided by two sets of rollers. A strong coil spring 4| connects the bar 40 with a bracket 42 upon the top of the carrier. It will be understood that the mechanism upon one side of the pilot chair as described is duplicated upon the other side.

As the tendency of the springs 4| is to draw the seat and latch bar upwardly to eject the pilot, means are required to releasably maintain the pilot seat in lowered position. To this end the frame member 31 which slopes downwardly and connects the seat with the latch bar 34 is provided with an outwardly turned lower end 31a forming a groove for receiving the end of a slidable anchor bar 43 which is slidably supported in a bearing 44 rising from the oor 45 of the pilot house. The outer end of the rod 43 is pivotally connected to the lower end of an operating lever 46 which is pivoted to a bracket 41 extending from the steering post 48 in front of the pilot seat by means of which the pilot guides the carrier. The steering mechanism connected to the post 48 is not shown as the same is well known. A latch bar 49 extending from the post 48 may cooperate with a latch 50 carried by the upper end of the lever 46 to lock the same in position. The brackets 41 and 50 may be swivelled upon the steering post to allow the same to rotate.

Springs 5| attached to the forward end of the door and the sides of the carrier serve to automatically swing the door open when it is released.

In the use of such a torpedo carrier, it will be appreciated that any desired number may be carried by a ship which ma-y be a water vessel, hydroplane or airplane and released overboard for attacking naval vessels such as fighting ships. When released, the carrier will be in command of a pilot who will enter the pilot house and latch the door. The engines may then be set in motion for propelling the carrier in the guided direction. It will of course, be understood that the carrier may first be equipped with a torpedo before it is released.

The high speed engines will naturally drive the carrier at a high rate of speed through the water in the direction of the object to be attacked but before it is reached, the pilot when at a suitable distance of about 200 feet will operate the lever 46 for releasing the pilot seat and causing the springs 4| to elevate the same together with the latch 34 which will release the door and allow the spring 5| to cause the door 2 to fly open. The pilot may use a suction parachute while being ejected. The seat will of course, be quickly elevated and the pilot will be ejected over the top while the carrier proceeds onward toward its target, which may be an armored vessel.

When the carrier rams the torpedo point against the armor and pierces the same, the carrier will be suddenly arrested with the result that the levers I2 and 21 will fly forwardly causing the powder or explosive means in chamber l0 to be ignited and the gas in cylinders I8 to be released. The explosion of the powder will discharge and force the torpedo into the ship at which time a second explosion caused by the explosive in the torpedo will destroy the ship. The 1gas that has been discharged will start combusion.

While the present invention is shown as a water vessel, it is conceivable that the same principles might be applied to a vessel traveling in the atmosphere.

It will be appreciated that the high speed and powerful driving force will cause the torpedo to penetrate the ships plates at about the time that the explosion occurs that discharges and forces the torpedo through such plates, at which time the second explosion due to the torpedo itself will arise.

I am aware that many changes may be made and various details of construction may be changed without departing from the principles of this invention, so I do not propose limiting the patent granted thereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a torpedo carrier comprising a vessel having a pilot compartment, a door for closing said compartment, a pilot seat in said compartment, means for sup-porting said seat for upward sliding movement for ejecting the pilot, yielding means connecting said seat with the upper Wall of said carrier and normally eiiective for elevating said seat, yielding means connecting said door and carrier and normally effective for opening said door, means associated with said seat in its normal position for retaining said door in closed position, latching mechanism for holding said seat in normal position and means for releasing said latching mechanism for allowing said first mentioned yielding means to elevate Said seat and release said door.

2. In a torpedo carrier comprising a vessel having a pilot compartment, a hinged door for closing the top of said compartment, yielding means normally tending to open said door, a slidably mounted pilot ejector seat in said compartment, means for latching said seat in a predetermined position, yielding means normally tending for elevating said seat and means controlled by said seat for latching and releasing said door.

3. In a torpedo carrier, comprising a vessel, means for driving said vessel at a high rate of speed, a torpedo having a piercing front end projecting from the front end of said vessel, high explosive means in contact with the rear end of said torpedo, means including a movable device automatically actuated upon a sudden arresting movement of said vessel for igniting said explosive, a pilot compartment in said vessel having an upper hinged door, a pilot ejecting seat in said compartment having means connected with said door for normally maintaining said door in closed position, manually operated means for releasing said seat and means for moving said seat for opening said door and ejecting the pilot.

4. In a torpedo carrier, a self propelled vessel, a torpedo projecting from the front end thereof,

explosive means associated with said torpedo,y

means, a pilot electing seat in said vessel, yielding means for moving said seat and manually operable means for controlling said yielding means.

5. In a torpedo carrier comprising a vessel, a torpedo projecting from the forward end of said vessel, explosive means at the rear end of said torpedo, a gas cylinder adjacent said torpedo, a piston in said cylinder, yielding means acting against said piston for discharging said gas, re; leasalole means for maintaining said piston adjacent one end of said cylinder against the tension of said yielding means and means for automatically releasing said releasable means and igniting said explosive means through a sudden arresting of said vessel.

6. In a torpedo carrier comprising a vessel, means for propelling said vessel at a high rate oi speed, a torpedo projecting from the front end of said vessel, a pilot compartment in said vessel having a hinged roof forming a door, a pilot seat vertically slidable in said compartment and having means for latching said door in closed position, yielding means for elevating said seat and releasable means for latching said seat in a predetermined position.

7. In a torpedo carrier comprising a vessel having a pilot compartment with a hinged door forming a top closure therefor, pilot seat supporting means in said compartment, a pilot Seat slidably mounted upon supporting means for vertical sliding movements and having means for engaging and latching said door in closed position, yielding means normally tending to open said door, yielding means normally tending to elevate said seat, and manually releasable means for latching said seat in a predetermined position. OTTO K. A. FRINDT. 

